River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-08
STORIES ABOUT HORSES.

In the autumn IT 1882 the writer in
with On officer of the army.
was riding along a trail which led
through one of the detached mountain
ranges thai border the White mountains,
or San Carlos Indian reservation.
Having reached an open part of the
trail. the horses were walking along at
a brisk pace when. upon turning an
abrupt angle. which opened upon an
extended and magnificent scene, both
horses SHE'D. stopped short, and with
heads high in air and nostrils distended.
evinced anmistakable signs of fear.
The officer. who was an experienced
frontiers-man, experimenting the cause,
quickly exclaimed: "Be on your guard,
there are Indians hereabOuts; the
horses smell them"
Realizing that it would be as safe,
perhaps. for us to remain where we
were as it would be to turn back, we
beganreconnoitering. our horses, mean
time. manifesting great uneasiness.
Catching the drift of the wind and
looking carefully and anxiously in that
direction. We soon discovered the cause
of the ALBANIAN Apache buck and two
squaws seated upon broken crag
several hundred yards above us, each
as silent and mOtionless as the rock up
on which they were reclining.
The Indians seemed to be friendly,
and in response to 2 signal from the
officer clambered down the mountain to
where we stood, when it was found
that they were nut gathering party.
They informed us by means of signs
and a few broken expressions which
the officer understood that they had
discovered us at point several miles
distant, and had selected q convenient
position from which they could watch
our movements unobserved. But for
the sagacity of our horses they doubt
less would have remained unseen by
us. Our horses, the officer informed
me, were veteran Indian fighters, hav-
ing participated in several campaigns
against the Apaches, and could "scent"
an Indian at a great distance when
the usually keen sense of hearing failed
to detect the presence of an enemy.
A party of miners MOI far from the
city Of Tucson have a team Of horses
named Dick and Jim. Dick is elder,
and probably on that account presumes
to direct the course of his INC :
companion.
During the night the horse craze in
the vicinity of the cabin occupied by
the miners, and as day begins to break
they approach quite close to the house,
where they linger until the men make
their appearance.
Should the services of the horses be
required, the men are particular to go
forth with a nose-bag, at the sight Of
which the animals suffer themselves to
be caught; but if instead of a nose-bag
bride or rope should be taken, old
Dick is sure to kick up his heels and
run away.
Not content to 60 alone, he will drive
Jim away also, biting him if he does
not move promptly, and thus for a
considerable time, will mischievOusly
avoid his owners. After awhile, as if
satisfied with their frolic, the horses
viii return to the cabin of their own
accord, allow themselves to be saddled
or hitched to the wagon and through
orr the day will wol!; faithfully
But &c most remarkable trait of
these horses is their habit of eating
anything and everything which comes
from the table. One evening rot long
ago, while Oh visit to the camp,
observed one o: tie men who cleared off
the supper table put the unconsumed
portions of the meal-cOnsisting OF
bread, potatoes. dried bacon, gravy,
and baked beans-into the horses nose
bags and afterwards add a quantity of
potato parings, rinds of smoked bacon,
and other raw materials"
Not seeing any dog or chickens
about. l inquired what he intended to
do with the hotchpotch. and was sur
prised at his reply: Feed it to the
horses"
Seeing that he was in earnest, went
with him and was still more surprised
to see both horses devour the "cold
victuals'' with as much apparent relish
and satisfaction as though the feast
consisted of barley or oats.
The miners informed me that the
horses were very fond of soup, and
would even eat chowchOw pickles,
which caused them to sneeze and make
o~oaaI;1orlx- op,ucin0r xty.4x- foooc
Both of these horses are great fav-
orites, particularly the older one, whose
funny tricks have established him in
the light of privileged character. and
the high respect in which he is held
by his owners is shown by the fact
that they have named one of their best
mines 1.-The Old Dick
One day last autumn a miner, whose
home is in an adjoining county. and
who lives alone in a small cabin stu
ated in the foothills several miles from
his nearest neighbor, reached home
about dusk from an extended prospect
ing tour almost worn out and sick.
He removed the saddle and bride from
his horse and turned him loose to
Craze, and entering his cabin he threw
himself down upon bis cot and soon
fell into a restless slumber, from which
he woke late in the night with a rag
ing fever.
Almost delirious. he knew not what
to do, being alone and without medi-
cines. 1t might happen that some
neighbor would pass in the morning.
but there was no certainty that any
person would call for days or possibly
weeks.
A realization of his helpless condi-
ton aggravated his disease, and the
poor man grew worse. Morning came
and he was unable to leave his bed.
His horse, his one faithful friend and
companion, could be heard near by,
evidently waiting for his coming.
All day long the animal remained
within hearing distance, and during
the long tedious hours of the second
night could be heard moving about
with restless tread, as though conscious
that some misfortune had befallen his
master.
Daylight appeared at last, and the
sick name mad an effort to speak. The
horse, hearing the welcome voice. went
to the door of the cabin, and pushing it
open. thrust his head into the sick
mans presence, at the same time Civ
ing low whinny, as much as to say,
what is the matter?" to which kind
ly inquiry there was no response save a